Gauge Arm

ABSTRACT

A gauge arm (and concomitant method of retrofitting an existing gauge arm) comprising an arm portion, a receptacle portion for receiving two or more sealed bearings, and two or more sealed bearings inserted into the receptacle portion. The receptacle portion is smooth bore, with the sealed bearings being press fit into same. The sealed bearings can be of different dimensions, such as one being a gauge wheel and closing wheel bearing, and one a round bore grain drill bearing. The receptacle portion then comprises a stop within the bore thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing ofU.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/328,375, filed onApr. 12, 2019, which in turn claimed the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 62/671,513, filed on May 15, 2018, each ofwhich is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)

The present invention relates to an improved gauge arm for farmequipment, most particularly for row crop planters.

2. Description of Related Art

Images of known gauge arms, also known as planter wheel gauge arms, 100,102 are shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B (Prior Art), which are in this casemanufactured by John Deere®. These known gauge arms, and others in theindustry have a number of mechanical problems, The known gauge arms donot fit tightly even when new and get worn down quickly in typical dustyfield conditions. The known gauge arms have a threaded insert or bushing104, 106 that screws inside the gauge arm in threaded receptacle 108,110, with no seal to keep out dust and dirt. The known gauge arms getloose and out of adjustment very easily. When they get loose, the resultis that the tire that goes on the gauge arm then wears quickly. Theprior art gauge arms also will get stuck and not move properly when theyget full of dirt. This is a battle that, in particular, all row cropplanters presently have.

The present invention provides an improved gauge arm that solves theabove-noted problems and can be used either with original equipmentmanufacturing or can be used to retrofit existing gauge arms. Theinvention is also of a method for such retrofitting.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is of a gauge arm comprising: an arm portion; areceptacle portion for receiving two or more sealed bearings; and two ormore sealed bearings inserted into the receptacle portion. In thepreferred embodiment, the receptacle portion is smooth bore, with thesealed bearings being press fit into the receptacle portion. The sealedbearings can be of different dimensions. One is preferably a gauge wheeland closing wheel bearing, and one a round bore grain drill bearing. Thereceptacle portion preferably comprises a stop within the bore of thereceptacle portion.

The invention is also of a gauge arm comprising: an arm portion; and areceptacle portion for receiving two or more sealed bearings. In thepreferred embodiment, the receptacle portion is smooth bore, with two ormore sealed bearings being press fittable into the receptacle portion.The receptacle portion comprises a stop within the bore of thereceptacle portion.

The invention is further of a method of retrofitting a gauge arm with athreaded receptacle portion, comprising: milling the receptacle portionto make it smooth bore; and inserting two or more sealed bearings intothe milled receptacle portion. In the preferred embodiment, insertingcomprises press fitting and two sealed bearing are inserted. One ispreferably a gauge wheel and closing wheel bearing, and one a round boregrain drill bearing. Milling is done from both ends of the receptacleportion to form a stop within the bore of the receptacle portion.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will be setforth in part in the detailed description to follow, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in part will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following,or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects andadvantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of theinstrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a partof the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the presentinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose ofillustrating one or more preferred embodiments of the invention and arenot to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are exploded views of a prior art gauge arm;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of an improved gauge arm according to thepresent invention installed on a planter;

FIG. 3 is a perspective close up view of a portion of the planter shownin FIG. 2 , with components removed for clarity of view, showing aninstalled improved gauge arm of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a back perspective view of an assembled gauge arm of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5A is a front perspective view of an assembled gauge arm of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5B is an exploded view of the gauge arm shown in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is a plan view of the gauge arm of the present invention withthe sealed bearings removed for clarity of view; and

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the gauge arm illustrated in FIG.6A taken at cut line 6B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is of new improved gauge arms, which, as will bereadily understood by those skilled in the art, are installed on plantermachinery, such as planter 5 in FIGS. 2 and 3 . In an exemplaryembodiment, the gauge arms include a receptacle portion which is milledto take two or more (preferably two different) sealed bearings, with nothreading required or desired. The gauge arms of the invention havesealed bearings so that they do not require greasing and will not inordinary operation get full of dust or dirt. Furthermore, the bearingsstay tight and in adjustment under normal use.

FIGS. 4-6B show an illustrative gauge arm 10 according to the inventionas described herein. In this case the receptacle portion 12 of the gaugearm has been milled to accept two sealed bearings 14 and 16. Arm portion18 can be of any of a number of shapes, depending on the requirements ofthe particular machine employing the gauge arm.

Receptacle portion 12 comprises receptacle 44 for bearing 14, receptacle42 for bearing 16. Stops 46 are inserted where appropriate against whichone end of each bearing will rest upon insertion. Receptacles 42 and 44are preferably bored for press fit for the accompanying sealed bearings14 and 16.

The preferred larger sealed bearing 14 is a gauge wheel and closingwheel bearing, most preferably with bore of about 0.640″, overall lengthof about 1.725″, length of body about 1.535″, and width about 1.575″,such as John Deere® part number AN212132 (or Timken® part number5203KYY2). The preferred smaller sealed bearing 16 is a round bore graindrill bearing, most preferably with bore of about 0.64″ round, O.D. ofabout 1.57″ flat, IR width of about 0.72″, and OR width of about 0.47″,such as John Deere® part number AN281357 (or Timken® part number203KRR2). Both the Single Row Bearing 203KRR2 and Double Row Bearing5203KYY2 Type have been field tested for 9 years and proven to stay inplace, work freely, and not need adjustment. However, other sealedbearings may be used as needs dictate, and could include two identicalbearings.

The two above bearings are presently preferred for a few reasons. TheAN212132 or equivalent bearing is a double row bearing. This type ofbearing is very strong and field proven in other farm applications. TheAN281357 or equivalent bearing is also field proven in farmapplications. So, there are actually three rows of bearings inside thegauge arm that work together. The two different bearings together make avery strong set that can withstand a lot of side pressure while inmotion. By using the two different bearings they collectively fill theinside cavity all the way across from one side to the other, making agood and secure fit when placed on the planter machinery such as planter5. By leaving a stop inside the cavity of the gauge arm, these twodifferent bearings, one on each side of the stop, work well together andcannot come out or move out of adjustment after being installed on theplanter machinery. There are no snap rings or retainers necessary. Inall, this embodiment of the present invention makes for a well workinggauge arm that is nearly trouble free.

Note that in the specification and claims, “about” or “approximately”means within ten percent (10%) of the numerical amount cited.

Although the invention has been described in detail with particularreference to these preferred embodiments, other embodiments can achievethe same results. Variations and modifications of the present inventionwill be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to coverall such modifications and equivalents. The entire disclosures of allreferences, applications, patents, and publications cited above and/orin the attachments, and of the corresponding application(s), are herebyincorporated by reference.

Having thus described the aforementioned present general inventiveconcept, what is claimed is:
 1. A method of retrofitting a gauge armwith a threaded receptacle portion, the method comprising the steps of:milling the receptacle portion to make it smooth bore; and inserting atleast two sealed bearings into the milled receptacle portion.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the inserting step comprises press fitting. 3.The method of claim 1 wherein inserting comprises inserting two sealedbearings.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the sealed bearings isa gauge wheel and closing wheel bearing.
 5. The method of claim 1wherein one of the sealed bearings is a round bore grain drill bearing.6. The method of claim 1 wherein milling comprises milling from bothends of the receptacle portion to form a stop within a bore of thereceptacle portion.
 7. A method of retrofitting a gauge arm with athreaded receptacle portion, the method comprising the steps of: millingthe receptacle portion to make it smooth bore; and inserting a firstsealed bearing and a second sealed bearing into the milled receptacleportion by press fitting said first and said second sealed bearings intothe milled receptacle portion.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein thefirst sealed bearing is a gauge wheel bearing and the second sealedbearing is a closing wheel bearing.
 9. The method of claim 7 whereinsaid second sealed bearing is a round bore grain drill bearing.
 10. Themethod of claim 7 wherein the step of milling the receptacle portioncomprises milling from both ends of the receptacle portion to form astop within a bore of the receptacle portion.
 11. The method of claim 7wherein the step of press fitting results in a secure frictional fitwhereby no retainers such as snap rings are required to secure the firstand second sealed bearings in said receptacle portion.
 12. A gauge armcomprising: an arm portion; an unthreaded receptacle portion; a singleinterior stop within a bore of said receptacle portion, wherein saidunthreaded receptacle is adapted for receiving two sealed bearings ofdiffering lengths, one on each side of said single interior stop; afirst sealed bearing inserted into said receptacle portion and press fitagainst a first side of said single interior stop, wherein said firstsealed bearing is a double row bearing; and a second sealed bearinginserted into said receptacle portion and press fit against a secondside of said single interior stop, wherein said gauge arm is suitablefor use in a planter.
 13. The gauge arm of claim 12 wherein saidreceptacle portion is smooth bore.
 14. The gauge arm of claim 12 whereinsaid first sealed bearing and said second sealed bearing are ofdifferent dimensions.
 15. The gauge arm of claim 12 wherein said firstsealed bearing is a gauge wheel and closing wheel bearing.
 16. The gaugearm of claim 15 wherein one of said second sealed bearing is a roundbore grain drill bearing.
 17. The gauge arm of claim 12 wherein thepress fitting of said first sealed bearing and said second sealedbearing results in a secure frictional fit whereby no retainers such assnap rings are required to secure the first and second sealed bearingsin said receptacle portion.